Support Series: Males Feeling Suicidal

October 9, 2018

Welcome back to the support series! On World Mental Health Day I’m going to discuss suicidal thoughts amongst men and how they can access support.

Worryingly Samaritans found that suicide is the single biggest cause of death in young men. Yet the highest suicide rate was amongst men aged 45-49 years. Men are also 3 times more likely than women to take their own lives in the UK.

Further research shows that only 27% of people who took their own lives had been in contact with mental health services the year before they died. It is argued that men are more likely than women to commit suicide because they are less likely to talk about their emotional health.

The cause of suicide or suicidal thoughts is complex and unique to each individual. Statistics from The Mental Health Foundation found that suicide is still highly stigmatised. Talking openly about these thoughts or feelings not only help understand this, but also help to prevent this.

Image taken from Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Charity.

The support series is a network of discussing different support options and organisations for public health issues. This edition will explore Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

What is Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)?

They do this by offering support to males who feeling suicidal by challenging a culture that prevents men from talking, pushing for change in policy and practice, and offering support to those loved-ones affected by male suicide.

How To Access Support:

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts yourself you can access support by;

Talking to someone you trust. This could be a partner, family member, friend or loved-one.

Talking to a professional. This could include either your GP or mental health crisis teams.

Present at A&E. Where you can speak to a professional face-to-face and be in a safe place.

Other helpful tips for coping in the moment:

The NHS advise individuals who are feeling suicidal to not focus on the future. Focus on how to get through the day. They suggest to refrain from taking any drugs and alcohol. Spend time with other people and try to do something you enjoy.

What if I’m worried about a man I know?

CALM has published advice about what to do if you’re worried about somebody else.

People can be worried that talking about the ‘S’ word will put the ideas into someone else’s mind. In fact, saying something is safer than saying nothing.

Practical measures to take include talking to the person you’re worried about, seeking medical help such as calling 999 or supporting them to attend A&E to speak with a mental health professional.

CALM Charity Support Details:

Phone Support*The phone services are available 5pm-midnight daily to support men who feel they have hit a brick wall for any reason and want to talk to somebody.Nationwide helpline – 0800 58 58 58London helpline – 0808 802 58 58

Online Support*Don’t like talking over the phone? CALM offer a webchat which is also available 5pm-midnight daily.
Webchat support can be accessed here.

HelpfinderSupport can be found at a local level using their directory to find support services within your local area. This can be used for a range of support issues other than suicide such as bereavement, depression, drugs, LGBTQ+.
The help near you can be accessed here.

For support around other public health issues, please visit the Support Series page.

If you would like to contact me directly for more information on support available, please do not hesitate to use my contact page!

*If you require support outside of CALM’s support hours, professional support can be accessed 24/7 at Samaritans who are free to contact at any time. For more information you can visit their website here or call 116 123 free of charge.